Funtime, Inc.
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| Company type | Public |
|---|---|
| Industry | Amusement parks |
| Founded | 1965 |
| Defunct | 1996 |
| Fate | Sold to Premier Parks |
| Headquarters | Cleveland, Ohio |
Area served | United States |
Funtime, Inc was an American amusement and entertainment company located in Cleveland, Ohio.[1] The company was established in 1965. It owned several properties throughout its 31-year-long lifespan.
History
[edit]Funtime Inc. was established in 1965 when four former Cedar Point employees, including Gasper Lococo (1928–2016), a former military sergeant from Huron,[2] pooled their resources and purchased Geauga Lake in Ohio for $5 million.[3] The park had previously been owned by members of the Kuhlman/Schryer family.[4] In 1983, the company began managing Wyandot Lake in Columbus, Ohio.[5] That same year FunTime acquired 50% controlling interest in Darien Lake.[6] In 1995, Funtime entered into an agreement to manage Lake Compounce in Bristol, Connecticut.[1]
Sale to Premier Parks
[edit]In August 1995 Funtime, Inc. was acquired by Premier Parks (later Six Flags) for $60 million.[7] The deal to manage Lake Compounce was canceled and the Kennywood Entertainment Company was awarded the contract.[8]
Properties
[edit]| Name | Location | Year Opened | Year Acquired | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Geauga Lake | Aurora, Ohio | 1887 | 1968 | Sold to Six Flags in 1995 and later Cedar Fair in 2004. The Park permanently closed on September 16, 2007. |
| Darien Lake | Darien, New York | 1954 | 1983 | Sold to Six Flags in 1995. And later PARC Management, Herschend Family Entertainment, Premier Parks LLC and currently EPR Properties with operations taken over by Six Flags.[citation needed] |
| Wyandot Lake | Columbus, Ohio | 1977 | 1983 | Sold to Six Flags in 1995, then to Columbus Zoo and Aquarium in 2006.[9] |
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Nation's Oldest Fun Park To Get a Brand New Look". New York Times. New York, New York. July 22, 1995. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
- ^ "Funtime Inc. co-founder Gasper Lococo has died". Amusement Today. 2015-10-07. Retrieved 2019-04-06.
- ^ "Geauga Lake History Page 2". www.geaugalaketoday.com. Retrieved 2019-04-06.
- ^ "Geauga Lake History". www.geaugalaketoday.com. Retrieved 2019-04-06.
- ^ Burns, Adrian (16 October 2006). "Changes idling Wyandot Lake in '07". Business First. Retrieved 6 April 2019.
- ^ "Funtime Inc. co-founder Gasper Lococo has died". Amusement Today. 2015-10-07. Retrieved 2019-04-06.
- ^ "Geauga Lake History Page 5". www.geaugalaketoday.com. Retrieved 2019-04-06.
- ^ "Lake Compounce - About Lake Compounce". Lake Compounce. 3 May 2018. Retrieved 2019-04-06.
- ^ Matzer Rose, Marla (13 June 2006). "Zoo to keep Wyandot Lake afloat". The Columbus Dispatch. Archived from the original on 2011-05-23. Retrieved 6 April 2019.
Sources
[edit]- "Funtime Inc. co-founder Gasper Lococo has died « Amusement Today". amusementtoday.com. 7 October 2015. Retrieved 2018-09-15.
- "Geauga Lake Today & Forever". geaugalaketoday.com. Retrieved 2018-09-15.
- "Wild World In Maryland | * Adventure World, formerly Wild World, located in Largo... - tribunedigital-baltimoresun". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 2018-09-15.[dead link]
External links
[edit]- Official website
- "Terms of Service Violation". bloomberg.com. Retrieved 2018-09-15.
- "FunTime, Inc. | Better Business Bureau Profile". bbb.org. Retrieved 2018-09-15.
- "History of Six Flags, Inc. – FundingUniverse". fundinguniverse.com. Retrieved 2018-09-15.